Geranium plant named ‘Balcolcher’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘Balcolcher’, characterized by its cascading and mounded growth habit; freely basal branching habit; medium green-colored leaves with dark zonation pattern; and dark red-colored double flowers.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION/CULTIVAR DESIGNATION

Pelargonium peltatum cultivar ‘Balcolcher’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium peltatum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Balcolcher’.

The new Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Arroyo Grande, Calif. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new freely flowering Geraniums with attractive flower and foliage colors.

The new Geranium originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor of a proprietary Pelargonium peltatum selection identified as code number BFP-2304, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Pelargonium peltatum selection identified as code number BFP-2098, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar ‘Balcolcher’ was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny from this cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif. in 1999.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken at Arroyo Grande, Calif., since June, 2000, has shown that the unique features of this new Geranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteriscics of ‘Balcolcher’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Balcolcher’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Cascading and mounded growth habit.

2. Freely basal branching habit.

3. Medium green-colored leaves with dark zonation pattern.

4. Dark red-colored double flowers.

Plants of the new Geranium differ from plants of the parent selections primarily in flower color.

The new Geranium can be compared to the cultivar, ‘Beach’, not patented. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Arroyo Grande, Calif., plants of the new Geranium differed from plants of the cultivar ‘Beach’ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Geranium were more compact than plants of the cultivar ‘Beach’.

2. Plants of the new Geranium had smaller leaves than plants of the cultivar ‘Beach’.

3. Leaves of plants of the new Geranium had a distinct zonation pattern whereas leaves of plants of the cultivar ‘Beach’ did not have a distinct zonation pattern.

4. Plants of the new Geranium were more freely flowering than plants of the cultivar ‘Beach’.

5. Flower color of plants of the new Geranium was more purple than flower color of plants of the cultivar ‘Beach’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Flower and foliage colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Geranium.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Balcolcher’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Balcolcher’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar ‘Balcolcher’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown 10-cm pots in Arroyo Grande, Calif., under commercial practice in a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse with day temperatures about 20 to 22° C., night temperatures about 18 to 20° C. and light levels about 2,500 to 3,000 foot-candles. Plants used for the photographs and description were about 8 to 10 weeks from planting rooted cuttings. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification:

Pelargonium peltatum cultivar ‘Balcolcher’.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Proprietary Pelargonium peltatum selection BFP-2304, not patented.

Male parent.—Proprietary Pelargonium peltatum selection BFP-2098, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—About 7 days at 18° C.

Time to develop roots.—About 21 days at 18° C.

Root description.—Fibrous, freely branching.

Plant description:

General appearance.—Cascading and mounded growth habit. Appropriate for 10-cm and larger containers.

Crop time.—Starting with a rooted cutting, about 8 to 10 weeks are required to produced a finished flowering plant in 10-cm container.

Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous and freely basal branching with about three lateral branches at the base. Pinching, that is, removal of terminal apices, is typically not required.

Plant height (to top of foliage).—About 10.7 cm.

Plant width.—About 29.3 cm.

Lateral branches.—Length: About 23.7 cm. Internode length: About 1.1 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 146D.

Foliage description.—Leaves simple, generally symmetrical, abundant, opposite. Quantity of leaves per lateral branch: About 16. Length: About 2.7 cm. Width: About 4.8 cm. Shape: Reniform. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Cordate. Margin: Palmatifid. Venation pattern: Palmate. Texture, upper surface: Slightly pubescent; leathery. Texture, lower surface: Glabrous; leathery. Color: Young and fully expanded foliage, upper surface: More yellow than 137A; zonation pattern 187A in color and located towards the center of leaf; venation, 147C. Young and fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B; venation, 147C. Petiole: Length: About 3.9 cm. Diameter: About 1.6 mm. Color: 146B.

Flower description:

Flower arrangement and type.—Dark red-colored flowers arranged in hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils. Umbels displayed above the foliage. At full flowering, usually about 17 open umbels and developing umbels per plant. Flowers double and rounded in shape. Umbels persistent. Flowers not fragrant.

Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In the garden, flowering is continuous from spring until fall.

Umbels.—Number of flowers per umbel: About seven. Diameter: About 7.8 cm. Height: About 4.7 cm. Flower diameter: About 4.4 cm. Flower height (depth): About 1.5 cm.

Flower buds.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 1.7 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 45D; towards petal margins, 45A.

Petals/petaloids.—Quantity: About twelve petals and one or two petaloids per flower. Petaloids variable in size and shape. Arrangement: Imbricate. Petal length: Upper petals: About 2.9 cm. Lower petals: About 2.3 cm. Petal width: Upper petals: About 1.9 cm. Lower petals: About 1.6 cm. Petal shape: Obovate. Petal/petaloid apex: Obtuse. Petal/petaloid base: Attenuate. Petal/petaloid margin: Entire. Petal/petaloid texture, upper and lower surfaces: Velvety; glabrous. Petal/petaloid color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Upper petals/petaloids: 53B; central venation, 59A; between the veins 64B. Lower petals/petaloids: 53B. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Closest to 53D.

Sepals.—Quantity: About five, not imbricate. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape: Ensiform to lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Between 146A and 146B.

Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: ABout 6.2 cm. Angle: Erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Dense pubescence. Color: 146C.

Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.9 cm. Angle: Erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146C overlain with close to 178A.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Anther quantity: About eleven, Anther length: About 2.5 mm. Anther color: Closest to 83B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Closest to 170A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: One. Pistil length: About 1.4 cm. Stigma shape: Five-parted, star-shaped. Stigma color: Closest to 71A. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: Closest to 2D.

Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Pelargonium has not been observed. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named 